Toner supply apparatus, toner storage container, and image forming apparatus including same

Abstract

The toner supply apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a shaft connection mechanism in which a first and a second joint are engaged to thereby enable transmission of rotation of a first shaft of a development device and a second shaft of a toner storage container. The first joint has a first engagement member biased from a first main body towards a second joint, and a biasing member for biasing the first engagement member. The second joint has a second main body and an engaging recessed portion engaging with the accommodated first engagement member in a configuration that is substantially incapable of rotation. When the first rotation axis is not aligned with the second rotation axis and the first engagement member is accommodated in the engaging recessed portion, the first engagement member inclines relative to the first or second rotation axis and can engage with the engaging recessed portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A toner supply apparatus comprising a development device having a first shaft that rotates about a first rotation axis;
 a toner storage container for supplying toner to the development device and having a second shaft that rotates about a second rotation axis extending along the first rotation axis; and 
 a shaft connection mechanism having a first joint and a second joint, and the first joint and the second joint engaging to enable connection of the first shaft and the second shaft in a direction along the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis, and enabling transmission of rotation between the first shaft and the second shaft; wherein 
 the first joint having a first main body being substantially incapable of rotation with respect to either one of the first shaft or the second shaft, a first engagement member biased from the first main body towards the second joint, and a biasing member for biasing the first engagement member; 
 the second joint having 
 a second main body being substantially incapable of rotation with respect to the other of the first shaft or the second shaft, and 
 an engaging recessed portion being provided on the second main body, opening towards the first joint, enabling accommodation of the first engagement member of the first joint and engaging with the accommodated first engagement member in a configuration that is substantially incapable of rotation; and 
 when the first engagement member is accommodated in the engaging recessed portion and the first rotation axis is not aligned with the second rotation axis, the first engagement member inclines relative to the first rotation axis or the second rotation axis and can engage with the engaging recessed portion in that configuration. 
 
     
     
       2. The toner supply apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first main body is formed from a cylindrical body that is coaxial to the first rotation axis or the second rotation shaft, and has an external groove extending along the first rotation axis or the second rotation axis on an outer peripheral portion of a cylindrical body, and extending in a radial direction from the outer peripheral portion along an internal space of the cylindrical body;
 the first engagement member having 
 an internal base portion disposed in the internal space of the cylindrical body; 
 a base projection disposable in the external groove for limiting rotation of the internal base portion with respect to the first main body when disposed in the external groove; 
 an engagement distal end portion connected with the internal base portion, and disposed near to the engaging recessed portion on an outer portion of the cylindrical body; and 
 the engaging recessed portion having an engaging groove that can engaged with the engagement distal end portion. 
 
     
     
       3. The toner supply apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first shaft rotates in response to the rotation shaft of a development roller in the development device; and
 the second shaft is a rotation shaft of a carrying screw for discharging toner in the toner storage container. 
 
     
     
       4. The toner supply apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the first shaft rotates in response to the rotation shaft of a development roller in the development device; and
 the second shaft is a rotation shaft of a carrying screw for discharging toner in the toner storage container. 
 
     
     
       5. An image forming apparatus having an image carrier forming an electrostatic image on a surface, the toner supply apparatus according to  claim 1 , and a fixing unit, wherein
 the development device forms a toner image on the image carrier by transfer of toner onto the electrostatic image formed on the image carrier; 
 the toner image formed on the image carrier is transferred to a sheet; and 
 the fixing unit heats the sheet having the transferred toner image and fixes the toner image to the sheet. 
 
     
     
       6. A toner storage container for supplying toner to a development device that has a first shaft that rotates about a first rotation axis, the toner storage container comprising
 a second shaft that rotates about a second rotation axis extending along the first rotation axis; and 
 one of a first joint or a second joint of a shaft connection mechanism including a first joint and a second joint, the first joint and the second joint engaging to enable connection of the first shaft and the second shaft in a direction along the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis, and enabling transmission of rotation between the first shaft and the second shaft; wherein 
 the first joint having a first main body being substantially incapable of rotation with respect to either one of the first shaft or the second shaft, a first engagement member biased from the first main body towards the second joint, and a biasing member for biasing the first engagement member; 
 the second joint having 
 a second main body being substantially incapable of rotation with respect to the other of the first shaft or the second shaft; and 
 an engaging recessed portion being provided on the second main body, opening towards the first joint, enabling accommodation of the first engagement member of the first joint and engaging with the accommodated first engagement member in a configuration that is substantially incapable of rotation; and 
 when the first engagement member is accommodated in the engaging recessed portion and the first rotation axis is not aligned with the second rotation axis, the first engagement member inclines relative to the first rotation axis or the second rotation axis and can engage with the engaging recessed portion in that configuration. 
 
     
     
       7. The toner storage container according to  claim 6 , wherein the first main body is formed from a cylindrical body that is coaxial to the first rotation axis or the second rotation shaft, and has an external groove extending along the first rotation axis or the second rotation axis on an outer peripheral portion of a cylindrical body, and extending in a radial direction from the outer peripheral portion along an internal space of the cylindrical body;
 the first engagement member having 
 an internal base portion disposed in the internal space of the cylindrical body; 
 a base projection disposable in the external groove for limiting rotation of the internal base portion with respect to the first main body when disposed in the external groove; 
 an engagement distal end portion connected with the internal base portion, and disposed near to the engaging recessed portion on an outer portion of the cylindrical body; and 
 the engaging recessed portion having an engaging groove that can engaged with the engagement distal end portion. 
 
     
     
       8. The toner storage container according to  claim 6 , wherein the first shaft rotates in response to the rotation shaft of a development roller in the development device; and
 the second shaft is a rotation shaft of a carrying screw for discharging toner in the toner storage container. 
 
     
     
       9. The toner storage container according to  claim 7 , wherein the first shaft rotates in response to the rotation shaft of a development roller in the development device; and
 the second shaft is a rotation shaft of a carrying screw for discharging toner in the toner storage container.